Tripura: 200 Arrested for Protesting against 'CAA' in Agartala

Agartala, January 8, 2019:

A pre-announced rally against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) called by the JMACAB (Joint Movement Against Citizenship Amendment Bill) in Tripura capital Agartala was stopped by the police on January 7, after it was cited to be "unlawful". The protesters who came out in protest to participate in the rally were arrested by the police as soon as the executive magistrate deemed the rally to be "unlawful".

Speaking to media persons, SDPO (Sadar) Dhruba Nath said, “There are 200 people. JMACAB is the name of their organization. They tried to start a rally but did not possess the necessary prior permissions from the police. We stopped them and when the executive magistrate declared their rally unlawful, we arrested all of them.”

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Later on, speaking at a press conference here in Agartala Press Club, convener of JMACAB Anthony Debbarma said that the protest rally was successful to a great extent to draw the attention of the city people towards the threats posed by the 'CAA'. He also told the media persons that their organization, which is a joint body comprising a number political and apolitical organizations, would participate in the NESO’s call of observing 'Black day' at Madhabbari.

NCT Supremo Animesh Debbarma, meanwhile, has alleged that the Tripura administration has not allowed regional parties to hold protests in Agartala city since August, 2016. “Since 2016, regional parties are not being allowed to hold protests in the city capital due to some unknown reasons. This can be construed as an attempt to curb the voice of dissent being aired by the regional political outfits” claimed Animesh.

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